2024 Iowa State Fair

Things You Don't Want to Miss

• Contest and Competitions: Attend the vast amount of contests and competitions that the Iowa State Fair holds. Some are funny some are serious and others are unreal!

• Decorated Diaper & Diaper Derby 

• Mom Calling Contest

• Timber Sports Contest

• Tallest Corn Contest

• Mr. Legs Contest

• Longest Beard Contest

• Iowa Auctioneer Bid Calling Contest

• Bill Riley Talent Show

• Fair After Dark - Glow Party in The Garden: Experience live music and drinks while wandering around the garden. Enjoy trivia, Svaenger hunts, glow sticks, and flower crowns while you watch the garden come to life after dark! 

• Iowa State Fair Fine Arts Department: Walk around the Cultural Center to see all the fine arts Iowans are making. Look at photos, paintings, and sculptures that young and old artists have been working on!

• The Avenue of Breeds: Showcases around 70 different breeds of Iowa animals running from sheep, to goat, to cows, to fish, to rabbits, and more! Come visit all the local animals under one roof.

  
  

Activities 

Make sure to experience these fun activities!    

• Ride the Sky Glider: See the whole fair from the sky.

• Midway Rides and Games: Try your luck on the many games or get your thrill on with the rides! 

• Ride the Giant Slide: Slide down the giant slide with the family! 

• Ye Old Mill Tickets: Ride the oldest amusement ride at the Iowa State Fair. 

• Try your voice in the husband-calling contest: DANN …. DANNN… GET IN HERE NOW! 

• Elwell Family Park Shows: Antique Tractor Pull (free), Short Course UTV & ATV Cup (free), Charros Performance (free), Outlaw Truck & Tractor Pulls, Garden Tractor Pull (free), Demolition Derby, and Figure 8 Races!

• Butter Cow: See the amazing butter cow made from 600 pounds of butter.

• PCA Booth: Visit us in the Varied Industries Building (#443). 

Concerts and Shows

Catch performances from renowned artists and local talents.

• Headliners: Lauren Daigle, Foreigner, Jelly Roll, Greta Van Fleet, Brett Young, Thomas Rhett, Motley Crue, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, The Avett Brothers, and NE-YO. 

• Susan Knapp Amphitheater: Listen to local bands, tribute acts, and other entertainers.
  
  

Agriculture Experiences

Immerse yourself in the fair's agriculture experiences.

• Llama Love: An event all about llamas where you can get llama hugs, llama kisses, and test your knowledge about llamas.

• Barnyard yoga: Attend yoga sessions with different farm animals like goats, cows, and baby animals. 

• Cuddles & Snuggles Chore-Time: Get the family together to help the Animal Learning Center wake up and look after the baby animals and mothers. 

• Livestock Shows: Attend the various shows for different livestock animals like cows, pigs, sheep, goats, poultry, and rabbits. 

Kid Friendly Activities

No shortage of fun for the kids!

• Visit Thrill Town: Ride some of the fair's many rides.

• Attend the Parade: Get some candy at the parade on August 7th at 6:15.

• Vet Camp & Advanced Vet Camp: Attend the vet camps and have your kids learn about the different vet practices and get them hands-on experience of what it's like to be a vet.

• Little Hands on the Farm: This activity teaches kids the importance of farming and gives them the chance to pick their fruits and vegetables.

• Tattoos: Go to the Varied Industries Building and get different tattoos from the vendors.  

• Attend the Petting Zoo: It is a great opportunity for your kiddo to get to see and pet his favorite animals.    

• Attend the Kids Bop concert: Hear your favorite songs for kids! 

  
  

Must Try Foods & Drinks 

Indulge in these delicious fair treats:

• Bacon Cheeseburger Eggroll: A savory fusion at Winn & Sara’s Kitchen.

• Cinnamon Crunch Apple Taco: A sweet delight from Iowa Specialty Crop Growers Association.

• Barksdale Cookies: Delicious cookies that are a must-try.

• Deep Fried Bacon Brisket Mac & Cheese Grilled Cheese: A decadent treat at What’s Your Cheez.

• Iowa Sm’Oak’ed Roll: A smoky delight from Whatcha Smokin’ BBQ.

• Lobster Corn Dog: A unique twist on a classic at Destination Grille.

• State Fair Lemonade: Refreshing and available everywhere.

• Super Chill Beer: Enjoy a cool beer at the 27-degree sign.

• Fried Cheese Curds: Savory and crispy at Brad & Harry’s Cheese Curds.

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What to Bring

Prepare for an enjoyable fair experience with these essentials:

• Comfortable Shoes: Expect lots of walking.

• Sunscreen: Protect your skin and enjoy the fair comfortably.

• Sealed or Empty Water Bottle: Save money and stay hydrated by bringing your own bottle to refill.

• Cash: Handy for purchases.

• Family: The most important thing to bring!

           The Iowa State Fair is the largest and longest-running event in Iowa. About 1 million people from all over the United States attend this fair. It originally started in Fairfield Iowa in 1854, then bounced around the state's east side until 1878. The Iowa State Fair then moved to the Des Moines Area and found its forever home. The fair has only been canceled a few times The World Fair, during the Spanish-American War, during World War Two, and the COVID-19 pandemic.  Other than those dates it has been running strong for around 170 years! This fair attracts all sorts of people, with all the fun and interesting attractions. We have animals, carnival rides, concerts, contests, rodeos, giveaways, businesses, history, wacky foods, and good drinks.  If you can name it or think of it the Iowa State Fair has it!  Now that we got through the history of the fair let's get into some of the fun and wacky things this fair has to offer!

            Wow, now that's a lot of information about our amazing state fair.  We just covered the history of our beloved fair and how it came to be. We also covered all the amazing things our fair has to offer, from things for the kids to great food for everyone, to the wacky husband-calling contest. There are tons of opportunities for entertainment and excitement at the fair. Hopefully, you will bring your family and enjoy some quality time with everything the fair has to offer. Now GO!  Get out there and enjoy the 170th IOWA STATE FAIR!